Anger—the Killer
Family feuds hit the headlines almost daily. When one sibling is hurt by someone the rest of the brood launches a quick counterattack on the offender’s family, instead of leaving the matter to the law or God, as in the matter of Dinah (Gen 34:7). So on their day of blessing Simeon and Levi received a curse: “In their anger they slew a man. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce ; and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:6,7). Vengeance is God’s.
By preventing our anger from spilling, we hand over the offender to God’s judgment which can lead him to repentance.
Treating servants like slaves is inhuman. Balaam struck his donkey repeatedly and threatened to kill her. Little did he realise that it was the donkey that saved his life. Servants deserve common courtesies like a smile, a kind word of enquiry, a word of appreciation, a thank you, a greeting. If you swallow your pride and do that, it will be impossible to get angry with them unreasonably (Prov 21:24 KJV). The Bible admonishes masters to treat servants politely and to “give up threatening” because we ourselves are servants to God (Eph 6:9).
Anger at the Helm
Leadership and anger cannot be bedfellows. Paul disqualifies an angry man from leadership (Tit 1:7). Leadership has passed by many with excellent qualities because they have not bothered to do anything about their anger. When a woman is hottempered, leadership passes by her husband. Men at the helm must be meek and not shaking angry fists at opposers (1 Tim 2:8). There will always be too many people to dispute and incite him. So he must be a gentle listener, correcting the opposers humbly (2 Tim 2:24,25).
Naaman was an army officer. He was furious probably because he was not treated according to his status (2 Ki 5:11). But he was a good man and treated his servants like sons (v 13). He condescended to their counsel and was healed. There are two lessons here. First, anger is an expression of pride. If we expect people to treat us like we expect, there will be no cure for our anger. Instead we must humbly accept the way people treat us. Secondly, it is not impossible to change us at any age, at any status. We are to be controlled by love, not anger.
Saul’s towering rage over David blew up his whole life (1 Sam 18:8,9). Asa’s anger over a chiding prophet threw him in a sick bed and unpleasant death (2 Chr 16:10-13). Oh, sweet are the bitter words of friends who correct us! But how often our unbecoming arrogance refuses to bow down!
One more reason why leaders should purge anger from their lives is because their followers will catch the virus (Prov 22:24,25). Leaders who erupt like volcanos fall well below the civilised standards of behaviour. As much as servants are not slaves, coworkers are not servants. Christendom has very few leaders and very many bosses. A boss can blow his breath like a whale, not a leader. If people want to stick on to you, let it not be for the money you pay but for the love you pour.
The boss drives his men,
The leader inspires them;
The boss depends on authority,
The leader depends on goodwill;
The boss evokes fear,
The leader radiates love.
—Doris Lessing
Wisdom and Anger
“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Prov 14:29). “A fool rages and is self confident. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (14:16,17). A wise man is not only anger-free but pacifies the king’s wrath (16:14). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (19:11). “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Eccl 7:9). “An angry man is seldom reasonable; a reasonable man is seldom angry.” Why blow our tops for every silly reason and make fools of ourselves? Why not forsake anger and become wise?
Righteous Anger
Anger is an emotion inbuilt in us. Properly channeled, it is the motivator for us to change wrong and abolish evil. It is misdirected anger that causes damage. Holy anger is a must for every Christian without which he cannot react to or fight against evil. Holy anger, when bottled up, will bring dishonour to God and His Kingdom (1 Sam 11:6). It is targeted at wickedness and has a cleansing effect. It is occasional as compared to the habitual anger that strikes at disastrous regularity. A man who xudes legitimate anger must be marked for his meekness (Mt 21:12; 11:29). Holy anger is daring to call evil as evil. But we must learn how to give it expression. The man who cannot be angry at evil usually lacks enthusiasm for good. Paul had a face to face confrontation with Peter and charged him with hypocrisy because Peter was clearly out of line (Gal 2: 11-14). This was no ordinary issue. It was a crucial doctrinal issue for the Church of God. But for Paul’s holy anger the church would be in a mess today.
How to handle Anger
Most of us have mean flashes of anger that come out in moments of stress. This century’s demand for a faster tempo has resulted in frayed nerves. Stress leads to anger and that to brawling. We all must learn to relax and go slow than try to do more than God intends us to do. Exhibiting primitive reactions ike shouting, screaming, yelling or throwing things is simple tribalism. Unless we face anger squarely and box it, it will choose to live with us. When someone tries to irritate us, we must tell ourselves: “This fellow is going to be disappointed.” We can tell the person too, “Well, you may get angry with me. But I am not going to respond in your style.” Love is not easily irritated (1 Cor 13:5). So develop a thick skin.
Whenever we quake with anger, our bloodstream is flooded with adrenaline and we burn up energy wastefully. Anger causes our heart-rate and blood pressure to go up and can ulcerate our stomach. Even the cold inexpressive anger shut up in the heart can gnaw at our internal organs. “Cease from anger and forsake wrath ; do not fret, it only causes harm” (Psa 37:8).
By letting go off resentment and retribution we blunt anger’s harmful effects on our body. Simply saying, “It’s OK, I forgive,” instead of digging out the root of bitterness doesn’t help.
Sooner or later the anger will return with a vengeance. If we have not forgiven someone who has hurt us we allow him /her to torment us still. The moment we forgive wholeheartedly, we are released from the clutches of the tormentor. If we choose to forgive one by one, one by one — we liberate ours lives — step by step, step by step. With men this is impossible, but with God's grace all things are possible. If God has forgiven us, we can forgive anyone. “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life” (Psa 30:5). If God had retained His fury on us, we would have been consumed. When the Almighty God is so merciful to us, can we hold anger against anyone?
The Psalmist goes to the heart of the issue and offers a couple of principles that still work if we abide by them: “Be angry and do not sin. Meditate in your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psa 4:4,5). Paul quotes this in his own language that our anger must subside before we sleep off (Eph 4:26). Anger is not a sin unless expressed. That’s why the Psalmist says that even if we become angry, we should not allow it to spill over. It is when we are in bed at the end of the day that the anger seethes in our heart. And the Psalmist tells us to meditate and calm down.
Meditate the Scriptural warnings on anger. Meditate how you are hurting yourself by being angry. Tell yourself, “Why should I be angry? God knows how hurt I am. I am the apple of God’s eye. No one can harm me without His permission. I just commit my offender into God’s hand. I forgive him for hurting me. I will do what is right. I put my trust on God. I will not react or thirst for vengeance.” Then you will sleep like a baby (Psa 4:8).
Finally God whispers a question privately into your ear: “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:9). Would you blatantly reply, “It is right for me to be angry even to death?”
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
Anger—the Killer
Family feuds hit the headlines almost daily. When one sibling is hurt by someone the rest of the brood launches a quick counterattack on the offender’s family, instead of leaving the matter to the law or God, as in the matter of Dinah (Gen 34:7). So on their day of blessing Simeon and Levi received a curse: “In their anger they slew a man. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce ; and their wrath, for it is cruel. I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” (Gen 49:6,7). Vengeance is God’s.
By preventing our anger from spilling, we hand over the offender to God’s judgment which can lead him to repentance.
Treating servants like slaves is inhuman. Balaam struck his donkey repeatedly and threatened to kill her. Little did he realise that it was the donkey that saved his life. Servants deserve common courtesies like a smile, a kind word of enquiry, a word of appreciation, a thank you, a greeting. If you swallow your pride and do that, it will be impossible to get angry with them unreasonably (Prov 21:24 KJV). The Bible admonishes masters to treat servants politely and to “give up threatening” because we ourselves are servants to God (Eph 6:9).
Anger at the Helm
Leadership and anger cannot be bedfellows. Paul disqualifies an angry man from leadership (Tit 1:7). Leadership has passed by many with excellent qualities because they have not bothered to do anything about their anger. When a woman is hottempered, leadership passes by her husband. Men at the helm must be meek and not shaking angry fists at opposers (1 Tim 2:8). There will always be too many people to dispute and incite him. So he must be a gentle listener, correcting the opposers humbly (2 Tim 2:24,25).
Naaman was an army officer. He was furious probably because he was not treated according to his status (2 Ki 5:11). But he was a good man and treated his servants like sons (v 13). He condescended to their counsel and was healed. There are two lessons here. First, anger is an expression of pride. If we expect people to treat us like we expect, there will be no cure for our anger. Instead we must humbly accept the way people treat us. Secondly, it is not impossible to change us at any age, at any status. We are to be controlled by love, not anger.
Saul’s towering rage over David blew up his whole life (1 Sam 18:8,9). Asa’s anger over a chiding prophet threw him in a sick bed and unpleasant death (2 Chr 16:10-13). Oh, sweet are the bitter words of friends who correct us! But how often our unbecoming arrogance refuses to bow down!
One more reason why leaders should purge anger from their lives is because their followers will catch the virus (Prov 22:24,25). Leaders who erupt like volcanos fall well below the civilised standards of behaviour. As much as servants are not slaves, coworkers are not servants. Christendom has very few leaders and very many bosses. A boss can blow his breath like a whale, not a leader. If people want to stick on to you, let it not be for the money you pay but for the love you pour.
The boss drives his men,
The leader inspires them;
The boss depends on authority,
The leader depends on goodwill;
The boss evokes fear,
The leader radiates love.
—Doris Lessing
Wisdom and Anger
“He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly” (Prov 14:29). “A fool rages and is self confident. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly” (14:16,17). A wise man is not only anger-free but pacifies the king’s wrath (16:14). “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger and his glory is to overlook a transgression” (19:11). “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Eccl 7:9). “An angry man is seldom reasonable; a reasonable man is seldom angry.” Why blow our tops for every silly reason and make fools of ourselves? Why not forsake anger and become wise?
Righteous Anger
Anger is an emotion inbuilt in us. Properly channeled, it is the motivator for us to change wrong and abolish evil. It is misdirected anger that causes damage. Holy anger is a must for every Christian without which he cannot react to or fight against evil. Holy anger, when bottled up, will bring dishonour to God and His Kingdom (1 Sam 11:6). It is targeted at wickedness and has a cleansing effect. It is occasional as compared to the habitual anger that strikes at disastrous regularity. A man who xudes legitimate anger must be marked for his meekness (Mt 21:12; 11:29). Holy anger is daring to call evil as evil. But we must learn how to give it expression. The man who cannot be angry at evil usually lacks enthusiasm for good. Paul had a face to face confrontation with Peter and charged him with hypocrisy because Peter was clearly out of line (Gal 2: 11-14). This was no ordinary issue. It was a crucial doctrinal issue for the Church of God. But for Paul’s holy anger the church would be in a mess today.
How to handle Anger
Most of us have mean flashes of anger that come out in moments of stress. This century’s demand for a faster tempo has resulted in frayed nerves. Stress leads to anger and that to brawling. We all must learn to relax and go slow than try to do more than God intends us to do. Exhibiting primitive reactions ike shouting, screaming, yelling or throwing things is simple tribalism. Unless we face anger squarely and box it, it will choose to live with us. When someone tries to irritate us, we must tell ourselves: “This fellow is going to be disappointed.” We can tell the person too, “Well, you may get angry with me. But I am not going to respond in your style.” Love is not easily irritated (1 Cor 13:5). So develop a thick skin.
Whenever we quake with anger, our bloodstream is flooded with adrenaline and we burn up energy wastefully. Anger causes our heart-rate and blood pressure to go up and can ulcerate our stomach. Even the cold inexpressive anger shut up in the heart can gnaw at our internal organs. “Cease from anger and forsake wrath ; do not fret, it only causes harm” (Psa 37:8).
By letting go off resentment and retribution we blunt anger’s harmful effects on our body. Simply saying, “It’s OK, I forgive,” instead of digging out the root of bitterness doesn’t help.
Sooner or later the anger will return with a vengeance. If we have not forgiven someone who has hurt us we allow him /her to torment us still. The moment we forgive wholeheartedly, we are released from the clutches of the tormentor. If we choose to forgive one by one, one by one — we liberate ours lives — step by step, step by step. With men this is impossible, but with God's grace all things are possible. If God has forgiven us, we can forgive anyone. “His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life” (Psa 30:5). If God had retained His fury on us, we would have been consumed. When the Almighty God is so merciful to us, can we hold anger against anyone?
The Psalmist goes to the heart of the issue and offers a couple of principles that still work if we abide by them: “Be angry and do not sin. Meditate in your heart on your bed, and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord” (Psa 4:4,5). Paul quotes this in his own language that our anger must subside before we sleep off (Eph 4:26). Anger is not a sin unless expressed. That’s why the Psalmist says that even if we become angry, we should not allow it to spill over. It is when we are in bed at the end of the day that the anger seethes in our heart. And the Psalmist tells us to meditate and calm down.
Meditate the Scriptural warnings on anger. Meditate how you are hurting yourself by being angry. Tell yourself, “Why should I be angry? God knows how hurt I am. I am the apple of God’s eye. No one can harm me without His permission. I just commit my offender into God’s hand. I forgive him for hurting me. I will do what is right. I put my trust on God. I will not react or thirst for vengeance.” Then you will sleep like a baby (Psa 4:8).
Finally God whispers a question privately into your ear: “Is it right for you to be angry?” (Jonah 4:9). Would you blatantly reply, “It is right for me to be angry even to death?”
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
